Great Lakes Recreation & Tourism Daniel Stynes Park Recreation and Tourism Resources Michigan State University Daniel Stynes Park Recreation and Tourism Resources Michigan State University

Recreation,Tourism and the Great Lakes n Definitional issues n Measures of size & importance –Tourism –Recreation activities n A comprehensive approach

Definitional Issues n Recreation n Tourism n Amenity uses (seasonal homes, scenic resource) n Great Lakes & connecting waters –In-water activity (boat,fish, dive, swim) –Coastal zone –Vicarious “uses”

Measures n Participants n Days of activity n Spending n Resulting sales, income, employment

Michigan Tourism n 22 million party trips in 1995 (BTS) (trips of 100 miles or more one way) 2.45 party size, 3.5 length of stay n 76 million party nights/days (BTS) $87 per party per day/night n $10 billion tourist spending in 1997 (trips of 50 miles or more) Sources: BTS = 1995 American Travel Survey, Bureau of Transportation Statistics ( spending from Stynes model (

Selected Tourism Statistics from BTS 22 Million Trips to Michigan n Origin: 62% from Michigan, 38% outside n Purpose: 23% business, 33% VFR, 15% R&R, 3% sightsee, 10% outdoor rec. n Lodging: 24% day trip, 28% motel, 5% camp, 8% SH, 35% F&R n Other: 13% by air, 51% to metro areas, 46% weekend trips

Source: Stynes model at my web site:

Great Lakes ? Great Times! GL as: Destination/setting Set of activities Set of facilities

Tourism Spending by County, 1995 ($MM)

Tourist spending in Great Lakes Counties $3.8 Billion (excluding air) 53% of total

Recreation Activity More Easily tied to Great Lakes at least some are: Boating Fishing Diving Swimming

Michigan Boating Statistics 1998 n 750,000 valid registered boats n 652,000 active boats, 29 days per boat n 19 million boat days n 5 million GL days (26%), 14 million IL n 10 million fish/boat days, 9 million pleasure n 2.2 million GL “fish from boat” days n $662 million trip spending; $339 million GL Source: Stynes, Mahoney & Lee, 1998 Registered boater survey

Boating by Storage Segment

Boat Activity by Storage

Michigan Fishing Statistics 1996 n 1.8 million anglers 16 or older n 674 thousand GL anglers (37%) n 16 days per angler million angler days n 9 GL days per GL angler -- 6 million GL days (21%) n $20 per day trip spending, $37 GL days n $583 million total spending n $225 million total on GL angling (39%) Source: 1996 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting & Wildlife Associated Recreation : PDF file at:

Boat- Fish Comparison

Fish from Boat

A Comprehensive approach? n Florida Keys example- Bob Leeworthy Complete picture of recreation and tourism activity in a coastal area including links to region’s economy, social structure, environment and quality of life: n Application in Open Access Situation –Multiple methods/data sources - planned to fit together Local resident survey in day use market area Capture overnight visitors at lodging Other on-site studies at key locations Models to integrate data in consistent manner

Boat Activity by Storage

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